Seized Altornator

Two urgent questions. Freelander 1 2.0 1999 model alternator seized. Can it be fixed and which other car is it compatible with?

A 99 could be an L series engine, so are you sure it's the alternator seized, as it could also be the vacuum pump seized.

Well, the alternator is not spinning and there are fumes popping up because of the serpentine belt. Please advice if you can.

Before you know what you need, you'll need to remove the alternator from the vehicle. Unfortunately as the alternator also drives the vacuum pump, you'll need to remove the whole assembly, then remove the vac pump once it's on the bench.
At this point you'll be able to determine if the alternator or pump has the issue.
Alternatively get a complete second hand replacement from somewhere like Ebay, and swap the whole assembly over.

Also, i had a battery warning just before the seize happened. Think that might have been a clue? Is the assembly or parts of it compatible to any other car or any later Landy model?

King The Gr8 said:

Also, i had a battery warning just before the seize happened. Think that might have been a clue?

Click to expand...

The warning light came on, because the alternator had stopped spinning, because it or the vac pump has seized.

King The Gr8 said:

Is the assembly or parts of it compatible to any other car or any later Landy model?

Click to expand...

Nothing from a later LR will fit, as unfortunately that alternator/vac pump assembly is unique to the L Series FL1.

The alternator/vac pump is likely from a Rover 200/25/400/45 diesel of a similar age.

Thanks a mil man. I will be under the hood the whole day tomorrow. Will periodically check in with u

Urgent. Hi, been under the hood diagnosing. I see a lot of belt burn and scrapping residue on and around the tensioner and surrounding area. Can a tensioner cease? Never heard of such an incident though.

King The Gr8 said:

Urgent. Hi, been under the hood diagnosing. I see a lot of belt burn and scrapping residue on and around the tensioner and surrounding area. Can a tensioner cease? Never heard of such an incident though.

Click to expand...

Aux belt tensioner is the most deadly thing to an L Series engine.

They do fail reasonably often. Usually results in the belt being thrown, which gets caught up in the main pulley and throws the cam belt - and dead engine.

So you look to have been lucky.

They are not that cheap unfortunately - but worth maintaining as they are about the only thing that will kill the engine.

Even if it is a seized alternator or vacuum pump - if the tensioner looks like its been compromised at all (or if it not been changed in a long time), change it and the belt.

Yep, the tensioner was banged-up good. Changed it and the serpentine belt. Now I have a flashing battery sign on the dash that comes on when the car accelerate and goes of immediately at deceleration. Im not sure if its the power cables being moved as the wind blows inwards at acceleration or it is more detrimental sign of things to come. The mechanic swears with his life that the alternator is good since the car does not clean out battery power and can start without and issue and all electrical components (lights, windows etc) work perfectly? Any ideas on this issue?

Belt slipping most likely.

King The Gr8 said:

Yep, the tensioner was banged-up good. Changed it and the serpentine belt. Now I have a flashing battery sign on the dash that comes on when the car accelerate and goes of immediately at deceleration. Im not sure if its the power cables being moved as the wind blows inwards at acceleration or it is more detrimental sign of things to come. The mechanic swears with his life that the alternator is good since the car does not clean out battery power and can start without and issue and all electrical components (lights, windows etc) work perfectly? Any ideas on this issue?

Click to expand...

One would think that you're mechanic's view on the alternator is dodgy because the battery light is coming on - so there is presumably a charging issue and he hasn't been able to explain why.

As said, it could be the belt slipping or the alternator or an electrical connection - or possibly what ever is controlling the light and therefore not a charging issue.

I'm not sure how you would determine which.

Having fitted the new belt & tensioner - does the belt feel tight enough? what make of tensioner & belt did you use?

If you no advice can be offered on here, I'd be taking a visit to an auto electrician.

Its a Dunlop belt and it digs a lil deeper in the pocket (so is every Land Rover part and mech around here). They seem to be making good quality product. Not sure about the tensioner but it is metal and not those hard plastic ones. Could be a battery problem according to you-tube mechs. Saw a very lengthy video about battery power testing and got exhausted just following it. I mean, its a battery right. Anyway, the car starts with out an issue every after two or three days of parking with mobilizer alarm set.